Advice Needed from DIY Big-Choppers

[BronzyBella]

Hi ladies,

My hair was in yarn braids for about a month and I took them out Friday/Saturday because this is the last long weekend I'll have in a long time and I was getting bored of them anyway. I'm about 5 months post relaxer.

Today, I figured that since it was V-day, I might as well do something for myself. My plan was to BC and get it over it. I was getting really anxious about finally being all natural and I told myself that if I wanted to protective style post BC, it would be cool to do kinky twists or braids with extensions and have most of the loose hair waved/curled with hot water, something I've always wanted to try.

Anyway, I've seen a video by YouTube's BlackOnyx77 about BCing. She had some really great tips. For example, get your hair soaking wet with conditioner so the curls clump together, don't stretch the length too much so that you don't mistake natural hair for relaxed, and just snip away at the spikes (relaxed hair).

Here are the problems I encountered:

1.) It's mainly my hair line that's 4a, the rest of my hair didn't really clump at all, so I didn't really know where to cut.

I'm still unsure weather I'm 3c or 4b in the crown area because all I know is that it seems to grow straight. Sometimes if my new growth gets long, it seems to start to loop like a curl, but I could be wrong.

2.) Even though I had the bathroom mirror, a full length mirror (shower door) and a hand-held mirror, I couldn't see all areas of my head well.

3.) I wasn't expected my hair to be so short for 5 months post. My nape literally looks about half an inch stretched.

So basically, I'd say I'm about 80% natural at this point. Right now, I'm wondering if I should make an appointment for a salon to cut the rest of my hair next week or if anyone's experienced what I have and have some advice to offer me.

Thanks in advance.

 

[WantNatural]

I'm trying to remember how I BC'd. My new growth was very coily so I don't believe I put any products in my hair prior to the BC. I just took down my bun, sectioned my hair, grabbed a section of hair, and started cutting. I cut each section to within about an inch of my new growth and then I believe I cowashed it so I could see the relaxed ends. I cut off as much as I could but it took me weeks to completely cut off all of the relaxed ends, I kept catching them here and there. Since it is hard for you to tell your new growth clearly from your relaxed hair, I would schedule an appointment and let a professional finish it for you.

Congrats on your BC!!!

 

[Soliel185]

I did my BC with wet hair and conditioner. I don't have a crazy curl pattern, but just by rule of puffiness it was pretty easy to see relaxed vs natural. I have layers b/c my natural hair grew in layers, and I just followed that as I cut.

I did run into a problem with my bangs, the pattern is very loose there so I cut them a little shorter than necessary thinking it was still relaxed hair. Even after the BC in the weeks afterward I could see areas I missed. They'll start to really stick out as your hair acclimates to being natural and starts responding to products.

If you're a control freak like me, just keep doing snip maintenance as you see left over ends for the next few weeks. If not, then go ahead and find a stylist you trust to cut it for you.

 

[honeybuni84]

basically i just soaked my hair with conditioner and started cutting.. you can mix some gel in with the conditioner to really see the line of demarcation. but i was able to tell pretty easily. perhaps you could have someone cut at the back of you hair to make sure you can get it them all..

Or you can do what I did, which is chopping it down to the nitty gritty no matter where it is lol

 

[BronzyBella]

Thanks ladies,

I think what I will do is just keep trimming a little here and there whenever I see relaxed looking ends sticking out. And then hopefully within a few weeks, the straight looking hair will curl a little more. It's not like I was planning on rockin' wash n go's right away, so I'm in no rush.

P.S. the gel thing is a good idea though.